Four things to keep in mind if a home has a lower score:

• A score of “1” does not mean that a home is poorly built or inefficient. A beautiful home with efficient HVAC can still receive a low score if the home has a large floor plan where heat can escape or has insufficient insulation. A good analogy is the car-buying process. The score is similar to a miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating on a car. If a buyer is comparing a sedan and a pick-up truck, they would expect the pick-up truck to have a lower MPG rating. This does not make one vehicle better than the other; it just means that one is bigger and will likely use more energy!
• The Score estimates a home’s total energy use, not the energy use per square foot.  A home with a low score is expected to use more energy per year than the average U.S. home. This means that a lower score could be a tradeoff a buyer would have to consider for a 4,000 square foot home with a beautiful view.
• Most investments into home improvements are made within the first two years after purchase. The Home Energy Score provides homeowners with a prioritized list of cost-effective energy efficiency measures that will help them save money and improve comfort.
• Studies have shown that homebuyers or renters appreciate having energy information about a property, regardless of the expected bills being high or a lower than Home Energy Score. The Score is just another tool for homeowners, home buyers, and renters to make a more informed decision.